The use of halophytes to reduce TDS is a novel strategy (Shelef
et al., 2013). The Typha sp. is a candidate halophyte for the phytoremediation
process with attached growth treating TDScontaminated
domestic wastewater. Visual observations have
showed that the leaves of the plants are dried after turning colorless
and become narrower at above 2500 mg TDS/L, which can be
explained by the loss of structural support in leaves (Fig. S-1b-i).
Histochemical estimations suggested that the shape of plant roots
and vascular bundles are strongly affected by the high TDS concentration
(Fig. S-1b-ii). This damage to the root anatomy then has
an impact on the shoot morphology. A high concentration of TDS in
the root zone can have toxic effects on plant growth probably due to
osmotic shock and depletion of potassium in the presence of high
concentrations of Naþ ions. This result has demonstrated that Typha
sp. as a halophytic plant can be used potentially for phytoremediation
of TDS-contaminated domestic wastewater, but investigations
are still rare.